No fun in law-making forum

JAKARTA (JP): Two subdistrict chiefs from Bekasi are in hot water after they were caught arm wrestling while attending a plenary meeting of the regency legislative council Tuesday.

Sindang Jaya chief Sundan Jasan and Lambangsari chief Marsan N. are facing disciplinary measures because councilors considered them to be acting disrespectful during the region's law-making forum.

The regency invited the low-level bureaucrats to attend the meeting with the intention of showing them the regional policy- making process, Antara reported.

Instead of earnestly listening to political speeches, the two fought boredom by telling jokes and arm wrestling in the convention hall's balcony.

Bekasi regency secretary Adang Bachtiar and council speaker Wikanda D. took the matter seriously and said the subdistrict chiefs should be reprimanded.

"I regret the incident," Wikanda said. "One needs to follow a council hearing seriously."

Suparman, a councilor from the Armed Forces faction, was outraged and said that joking around while attending a council hearing was "both undisciplined and unethical".

The report did not say who emerged as the winner in the controversial arm wrestling contest. (pan)